Renwick Rose – A quiet giant who helped hold Searchlight together

RENWICK ROSE was never the loudest voice in the room. In fact, many times he was the quietest.

Yet few people have done more to shape public discussion, challenge our thinking and influence the direction of this country than he did.

Good morning everyone.

On behalf of the Board, management, staff and shareholders of Interactive Media Limited, publishers of Searchlight, I extend our deepest condolences to Mrs Rose, Renwick’s children, grandchildren, siblings and the wider Rose family.

Renwick is popularly described as a social and political activist. Others have spoken of his work with farmers, workers, women, the banana industry, the Cuba Friendship Society and countless other causes.

All of that is true. But today, I want to speak about the Renwick Rose we knew at Searchlight.

Renwick was one of the founders of the newspaper. Along with Bassy Alexander, Adrian Fraser and the late Oscar Allen, he established this newspaper in 1995. In fact, he was the person who suggested the name ‘Searchlight’.

For 31 years he served as a columnist, a director and one of the institution’s guiding lights.

His column, ‘Eye of the Needle’, became required reading for many Vincentians. Week after week, he challenged us to think more deeply, to look beyond personalities and partisan politics, and to focus on the issues that shape our society.

He believed deeply that journalism should help raise public consciousness and encourage meaningful discussion about the direction of our country.

He wrote extensively on the decolonization process, the road to Independence, constitutional development and the democratic struggles of the Vincentian people, including the Dread Bills of 1981 and the work of the Constitutional Review Commission.

What many people may not know is that Renwick also wrote many of Searchlight’s editorials over the years — more than any other contributor in the newspaper’s history. Interestingly, on the rare occasion that even after discussion, he and the editor did not agree on how to approach a proposed editorial, when he sat down to write, he faithfully reflected the position of the editor.

That was Renwick. There was no ego in him. He knew at the end of the day, the editor would be the one who would have to defend what was published.

When Searchlight was established, Renwick was the only one among the founders who had previous experience editing a newspaper. He knew the pressures of journalism. He understood deadlines, criticism, controversy and the loneliness that sometimes comes with editorial responsibility.

During my eighteen and a half years as editor of Searchlight, many people offered encouragement and moral support. I appreciated all of it.

But Renwick was different.

He truly understood what I was experiencing.

Whenever I needed advice, perspective or assistance, he was there.

Every conversation with him left me knowing something I did not know before.

He was widely read, deeply informed and possessed an extraordinary ability to place current events within their historical context.

Yet he wore his knowledge lightly.

He listened more than he spoke.

And when he finally spoke, people listened.

At board meetings, Renwick was rarely the first to offer an opinion. He preferred to hear everyone else first.

Then, usually in a few carefully chosen sentences, he would share his perspective.

His concern was seldom for personalities.

His concern was for the principle of the matter.

For the welfare of staff. For the importance of maintaining an independent media presence in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

For doing what was right. Perhaps that is why the final paragraph of the last ‘Eye of the Needle’ column he wrote for Searchlight in our February 13 edition says so much about who he was.

He wrote in part: “We may criticize their choices, but the government of their choosing is now our government. We can’t turn back now, but must seek to give shape and direction in a positive manner…”.

Even as his health declined, Renwick remained focused on the future of this country and its people.

He was, above all else, a nationalist.

He loved St Vincent and the Grenadines.

He championed the marginalized.

He believed ordinary people deserved dignity, opportunity and a voice.

He never sought wealth. He never chased fame. He preferred to remain in the background, using his pen to educate, challenge, encourage and sometimes admonish.

Over the past two years, I had the privilege of being among a small group working with Renwick to organize and preserve some of his writings.

We published three collections of his work and finally persuaded him to begin writing an autobiography of sorts.

Even then, he was reluctant to talk about himself. That humility never left him.

The last time I spoke with Renwick was on Whit Monday, two days before his death.

He called to apologize because he was not feeling well enough to go ahead with a visit we had planned for that afternoon.

I told him it was not a problem and that I understood.

His reply was typical Renwick.

He said, “I know it is not a problem for you, but it is a problem for me because I cannot speak coherently.”

Even then, weakened by illness, he remained thoughtful, courteous and determined to speak only when his mind was clear.

That is how I will remember him. As a wise, decent, loving and principled man whose quiet strength helped sustain an institution, guided generations of readers, and enriched the lives of those fortunate enough to know him.

Renwick Rose’s contribution to Searchlight cannot be adequately measured. Nor can his contribution to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

We are better because he lived among us.

May he rest in peace.